Be F.A.S.T. and learn the signs of stroke

Ambulance Victoria paramedics are out in force this week sharing the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke with their communities during National Stroke Week.

A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted and when it happens, you need to act fast.

A person suffers a stroke every 19 minutes in Australia and it’s one of Victoria’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.

Ambulance Victoria regional director Michael Georgiou said Victorians could make a life-changing difference by knowing the signs of stroke and phoning Triple Zero (000) immediately.

“This National Stroke Week, we’re encouraging all Victorians to learn the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke so you can quickly take action if a friend or loved one is experiencing a medical emergency,” Mr Georgiou said.

“This year’s theme is ‘Keep looking at your mate’ and it’s as simple as that – know the signs and you could save someone’s life.”

Mr Georgiou said timing was critical in stroke and the sooner paramedics arrive and transport patients for clot-busting treatment, the better the person’s chance of surviving and maintaining a good quality of life.

“Improving stroke outcomes for our patients is an ongoing focus at Ambulance Victoria and we are proud of the innovative work we do in this field.”

Ambulance Victoria’s Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST) is a life-saving service that allows stroke patients, particularly in regional locations, to get the care they need faster and closer to home.

Many rural and regional hospitals do not have stroke specialists on site.

However, this 24/7 virtual service links 19 Victorian hospitals and three Tasmanian hospitals to a network of expert neurologists, who can review patient brain scans, provide quick diagnosis and support local hospital staff to deliver time-critical clot-busting treatment.

More than 25,000 patients have received life-saving stroke care in the past decade thanks to the VST service.

As part of National Stroke Week – which runs until Sunday, August 11 – paramedics and first responders will be running stroke awareness sessions across the state, teaching community members the F.A.S.T. test:

• Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
• Arms – Can they lift both arms?
• Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
• Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, phone 000 straight away.

For more information about the VST service, head to ambulance.vic.gov.au

To find out more about the signs of stroke, head to strokefoundation.org.au